Humidifier assembly



April 21, 1964 M. R. BANKS HUMIDIFIER ASSEMBLY Filed June 2. 1961 4151 W115 RAYMOND BAA/K5 United States Patent Ofiice 3,130,246 Patented Apr. 21, 1964 ASSEMBLY Melville Raymond Banks, West Paterson, Nl, assignor to Walton Laboratories, Inc, Irvington, NJL, a corporation of New Jersey Filed June 2, 1961, Ser. No. 114,551 Claims. (ill. 261-49) This invention relates to a structurally and functionally improved humidifier assembly and in its more specific aspects to a rotor assembly for inclusion in a humidifier apparatus.

The present application is a continuation-in-part of my prior application for Humidifier filed in the United States Patent Ofi'ice on July 12, 1960 and identified under Serial No. 42,385.

It is a primary object of the invention to provide a humidifier rotor structure which will be in substantially perfect balance, and the parts of which may be readily detached by an inexperienced operator for cleaning and general servicing. Thereafter, without diificulty these parts may be reassembled in a manner such that the balance of the assembly, as established by the factory at the time of original manufacture and testing, will again prevail.

Another object is that of designing an assembly which according to the needs of a given installation will include more or less rotor parts.

Another object is that of furnishing an apparatus of this type which will include a simple and rugged design capable of ready and economical manufacture to function over long periods of time with freedom from all difliculties.

With these and other objects in mind reference is had to the attached sheet of drawings illustrating one practical embodiment of the invention and in which:

FIG. 1 is a sectional side view of a humidifier;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the elements included within one form of rotor assembly;

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of that assembly; and

FIG. 4 is a partly sectional side view in enlarged form of one type of coupling element to detachably secure the parts against separation.

In common with my prior application the humidifier structure may include a reservoir 5 in the form of a bowl to receive water and defining at its upper edge zone a. supporting flange or ledge 6. A cover 7 conveniently rests on this flange and is provided with a central opening within which the lower edge of a motor housing extends. That housing is provided with openings 9 for the entrance of air which flows downwardly and outwardly to be discharged through one or more outlets 10. These conveniently form a part of the cover and may have their axes extending in an upwardly inclined direction.

Within the housing a motor casing 11 is mounted conveniently by means of bolts 12, the bodies of which are encircled by shock absorbing sleeves 13 preferably of elastic material and which sleeves bear against the upper face of casing 11. As shown, housing 8 is spaced from and concentrically disposed with respect to casing 11. There extends from the lower face of this casing a motor shaft 14. To the latter there is attached a rotor assembly designed in accordance with the present teachings.

As will be understood, in a humidifier of ordinary capacity a motor of only fractional horsepower is employed. The shaft of this motor may have a speed of around 3,000 rpm. Ordinarily it may be slightly higher. While the rotor assembly is relatively light, it is essential that it be related to the motor shaft in a manner such that a condition of balance is established. Otherwise, an oil center or eccentric weight mass is created which with the motor operating will create vibration. Aside from damage to the structure which may be caused as a result of this, vibration is to be avoided because of the objectionable noise which would be created. Such a requirement is essential particularly where the structure is employed in a sickroom or otherwise where freedom from noise is desired. For this reason, prior to shipping a humidifier, a responsible manufacturer will always subject the apparatus to balance tests and correct any condition of off center weight or imbalance.

After a humidifier has been operated for a certain length of time it is necessary to clean the same. This is because with the use of a liquid such as water a build-up of foreign material occurs within the water elevating or pump structure. This material will also build up within spaces which may exist, for example, between disks included in the rotor assembly and especially where these spaces are relatively restricted. This requires a separation of the rotor parts and a cleaning thereof to reestablish the smooth unobstructed surfaces of the assembly free from accumulation of foreign material.

By the present teachings it is feasible for an unskilled user of the apparatus to separate the rotor parts and to clean them. Accordingly, it is unnecessary to return the apparatus to the manufacturer for this purpose.

Moreover, after cleaning has been accomplished and by the use of an ordinary tool, such as a screw driver, the user will have no diificulty in re-establishing the parts in positions where they are properly related to each other in a manner such that a properly balanced condition prevails.

The rotor assembly has been shown to best advantage in FIG. 2 in which the parts have been inverted so that the preferred construction may be clearly understood. Thus, in this View the numeral 15 indicates the water elevating tube extending into the reservo r or bowl 5. This tube at its upper end is conveniently secured to a flanged collar 16. If two distributing disks are included in the assembly, then a lower disk 17 bears against the flange face of collar 16. This plate is provided with a central opening 18 of a diameter equal to the diameter of tube 15. A bearing plate 19 is disposed upwardly of disk 17 and has an upwardly extending hub 26.

In turn, above plate 19 a further disk 21 may be disposed and conveniently provided with a downwardly inclined edge zone 22. The center of disk 21 is apertured, as at 23, to accommodate hub 20. Above disk 21 a fan structure is disposed. This may embrace a plate 24 of a diameter conveniently equal to the central zone of disk 21 and provided with upwardly struck blade parts 25. This plate is also formed with a central aperture 26 of a diameter such that hub 20 may extend therethrough.

It is necessary if two disks are employed that they be spaced from each other. Such spacing is also necessary between the upper end of the tube or equivalent pump 15 and the lower face of disk 21. Additionally, the parts must be susceptible to separation so that they may be cleaned. Thereafter, an inexperienced user should be capable of readily re-assembling them in proper relationship. Moreover, that user should not be able to detach the entire rotor assembly from the motor shaft.

With the latter end in view, hub 20 is preferably secured to shaft 14 by means of a set screw 27. That screw is located within a relatively recessed zone of cover 7. The casing 11 of the motor is attached to housing 8 preferably by pins which may not be readily disconnected from the housing. Therefore, the ordinary user will be unable to obtain access to the set screw 27 for completely detaching the rotor assembly. Such access is rendered even more diflicult for the reason that the grill or comb 23 or" the humidifier is preferably mounted within the recessed portion of the cover by means of supporting members'29 so that hub 20 cannot even be seen with the cover removed from the bowl 5.

As will be noted, plate 24, disk 21, plate 19, disk 17 and the flange of collar 16 are all formed with openings 30 for the accommodation of securing elements. These openings may be three in number and equally spaced around the axes of the parts. The securing elements conveniently include bodies 31 from which reduced exf tensions 32 and 33 project outwardly. Exten'sions 33 'in elfect are hollow rivets which project through the openings'30 in plate 19 and similar openings in disk 21 and plate 24. Above the latter they are headed, as indicated at 34 in FIG. 4. Therefore, these rivets will permanently secure those plates, the disk 21 and'also the hub 20 against movements with respect to each other.

The reduced lower portions 32 of'bodies 31 extend through the openings30 of disk'17 and the similar openings in the flange of collar 16. The bore of extensions 32 and bodies '31 is threaded and receives screws or bolts '35,

the heads of which bear against the underface of the collar flange. In this manner the latter and disk 17 are also secured as fixed parts of the rotor. assembly.

may be withdrawn. Incident to such withdrawal, clamping pressure of the flange of collar 16 against disk 17 will be relieved, and these parts may be detached from the upperelements of the assembly. Thereupon, the

lower surface of disk '21 may be thoroughly cleaned.

Also, the grill or comb 28 may be cleaned if necessary.

Most important, however,t.he upper surface "of disk 17 may be cleaned, as may also the' bore of the tube. To this end, if the latter mount a slotted'cap 37, it will be appreciated that unit may be detached and aftercleaning reapplied to the tube.

At the'time of manufacturing the unit and after a proper condition of balance has been incorporated in the rotor assembly, indicia is applied, as at 38 toplate 19, disk'17 and the flange of collar*16, at points adjacent related openings 30 of these parts. It will be home in mind that bodies 31 extend from the inner or lower face of disk 21. Therefore, the technique which a user will follow will be that of having the indicia 38 (preferably a number) of disk 17 related to the indicia of plate 19 so that the reduced portion 32 of the adjacent connecting member extends through the proper opening 30. There- 'upon, the indicia associated with the flange of collar16 'will be related to that carrie'dby disk 17 so that the proper openings 30 ensleeve over the reduced end portions 32. Finally, with the application of the bolts or screws 35, the parts will be secured in positions fixed with respect to each other.

It is apparent that by means of a rotor assembly such as this, one main set of parts 'will be used whether the humidifier be of one or another type. In the one case both disks 21 and 17 will be present. In the other case, disk 17 may be eliminated. In that event spacers or washers may conveniently intervene the heads 36 and the'adjacent surface of the element to be clamped so that looseness of the parts will not occur.

Thus, among others, the several objects of the invention'as' specificallyaforenoted are achieved. Obviously numerous changes in construction and rearrangements of the parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the claims.

I claim:

1. In a humidifier involving a rotary and vertically extending assembly embracing a number of parts certain of which require cleaning after separation from each other and which'parts must be subsequently'related and connected to each other only in predetermined positions to avoid a condition of dynamic imbalance; said assembly comprising an upper motor-driven shaft, a hub attached to said shaft toalign therewith, a plate forming a fixed part of said hub at the lower end thereof, a disk anda fan both ensleeved over said hub with the fan above said disk and said plate underlyingsaid disk' and withthe latter, the fan and plate extending parallel to each other and perpendicular to the hub axis, means for permanently securing said hub, fan and plate against detachment and movements with re'spectto each other, a'water-elevating tube, a collar-at the upper end of the latter and formed with openings to receive said securing-means for retaining it in alignment-with said hub, said plate, disk and fan also having openings to receive said securing-means, means forming apart of said'plate and collar for indicating when they are related in a manner such that a dynamically balanced assembly exists and detachable elements 'disposable within the securing means to retain the collar against separation from and movements with respect to saidplate.

2. In an assembly as defined in'clairn 1, releasable means for attaching said hub to saidshaft and a casing structure enclosing the same and-rendering said means inaccessible.

3. In a humidifier-as defined in claim 1, the means for permanently securing the hub, fan and plate against 'detachment and movements with respect to each other comprising rivets passing through openings in' said hub, fan and plate and bearing against the latter.

4. In a-humidifier as defined in claim 3, said rivets being hollow and saiddetachable elements for said'collar extending intoand engaging said rivets.

5. In a humidifier as defined inclaim 1,'a second disk means associated with the latter for indicating when said second disk is related to the other parts in a manner such that a dynamically balanced assembly is established, said second disk being also formed with openings and'disposed adjacent the collar of said tube and retained by said detachable elements against movement 'with respect to and spaced from said first-named disk.

References Cited in "the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,626,668 Cramer et a1. ..-May 3, 1927 1,849,710 Cramer -1 Mar. 15, 1932 1,892,694 Carter Janp3, 1933 1,994,912 Hochstetter Mar. 19, 1935 2,022,415 Feldermann Nov. 26, 1935 2,296,930 Ihler Sept.-29, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS 990,353 France June 6, 1951 

1. IN A HUMIDIFIER INVOLVING A ROTARY AND VERTICALLY EXTENDING ASSEMBLY EMBRACING A NUMBER OF PARTS CERTAIN OF WHICH REQUIRE CLEANING AFTER SEPARATION FROM EACH OTHER AND WHICH PARTS MUST BE SUBSEQUENTLY RELATED AND CONNECTED TO EACH OTYHER ONLY IN PREDETERMINED POSITIONS TO AVOID A CONDITION OF DYBAMIC IMBALANCE; SAID ASSEMBLY COMPRISING AN UPPER MOTOR-DRIVEN SHAFT, A HUB ATTACHED TO SAID SHAFT TO ALIGN THEREWITH, A PLATE FORMING A FIXED PART OF SAID HUB AT THE LOWER END THEREOF, A DISK AND A FAN BOTH ENSLEEVED OVER SAID HUB WITH THE FAN ABOVE SAID DISK AND SAID PLATE UNDERLYING SAID DISK AND WITH THE LATTER, THE FAN AND PLATE EXTENDING PARALLEL TO EACH OTHER AND PERPENDICULAR TO THE HUB AXIS, MEANS FOR PERMANENTLY SECURING SAID HUB, FAN AND PLATE AGAINST DETACHMENT AND MOVEMENTS WITH RESPECT TO EACH OTHER, A WATER-ELEVATING TUBE, A COLLAR AT THE UPPER END OF THE LATTER AND FORMED WITH OPENINGS TO RECEIVE SAID SECURING MEANS FOR RETAINING IT IN ALIGNMENT WITH SAID HUB, SAID PLATE, DISK AND FA ALSO HAVING OPENINGS TO RECEIVE SAID SECURING MEANS, MEANS FORMING A PART OF SAID PLATE AND COLLAR FOR INDICATING WHEN THEY ARE RELATED IN A MANNER SUCH THAT A DYNAMICALLY BALANCED ASSEMBLY EXISTS AND DETACHABLE ELEMENTS DISPOSABLE WITHIN THE SECURING MEANS TO RETAIN THE COLLAR AGAINST SEPARATION FROM AND MOVEMENTS WITH RESPECT TO SAID PLATE. 